Nepal, July 29 -- On Saturday, Dr Pramod Ram, a doctor at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj, was assaulted by relatives of a 45-year-old patient who died while undergoing treatment in the hospital's emergency ward. The attackers also vandalised hospital property and threatened other health workers. The incident prompted the hospital to suspend services, with all staff resigning en masse in protest.

The Nepal Medical Association, an umbrella organisation of medical and dental doctors, supported the protest by halting all non-emergency health services nationwide. While the strike was withdrawn on Wednesday evening, hundreds of thousands of patients were already deprived of medical care on Tuesday and Wednesday. Patients ultimately bear the brun...